Leading in almost every industry, the United States has always presented various career opportunities for foreign nationals. The U.S. government also has different types of visas for every skill and career goal. Generally, if you’re from outside the United States and want to work in the country, you must apply for a work visa from the U.S. Department of State or DOS.
In a few cases, citizens of certain countries can travel to the United States freely without a visa. However, they must meet specific requirements to do so. You can check the Travel Without A Visa section on the DOS website to learn more about this. For now, here’s a practical and step-by-step guide on how to get a work visa to help you with your dream career in the USA.
Steps to Apply for a U.S. Work Visa
Step 1. Secure Your Eligibility
In most cases, you need a U.S. employer or other qualified organization to file a petition or application on your behalf to get a US work visa. This process will establish credibility and increase your chances of being approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service or USCIS. Only after the petition is approved will you be eligible to apply for a work visa. However, you may file a petition on your behalf if you’re an immigrant with extraordinary ability (E1), an investor, or a principal treaty trader.
Step 2. Start the National Visa Center Processing
Once your petition is approved, your case is forwarded to the National Visa Center, or NVC, and processed for several weeks. When the proceedings are done, you will receive a welcome letter by e-mail or physical mail. The mail contains information about the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC), where you can manage your case. At this stage, you must pay the Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee and Affidavit of Support Fee via the CEAC. You can find a complete list of visa fees on their official website.
Step 3. Your Employer Settles Affidavit of Support
You’ll also need to show that you can financially support yourself by filling out an affidavit. If you cannot do so, your employer or petitioner must complete the affidavit, which shows that they accept financial responsibility for a foreign applicant. They should also present proof of finances, assets, and other supporting documents to demonstrate their financial capability to get a U.S. work visa.
Submitting the affidavit of support also assures the government that the visa holder is complying with the rules and restrictions and will not financially strain the public welfare system.
Step 4. Complete the Online Visa Application
After clearing the previous steps, you must complete the Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration, or Form DS-260, in the CEAC platform. Don’t forget to print the confirmation page after submission to bring to your interview. If you’re immigrating with family members, they must complete separate DS-260 forms. We recommend that you ensure you fill in the correct information in the form with no misspellings to avoid mishaps while processing your work visa application.
Step 5. Collect and Submit Your Documents
For the next step, you must collect the necessary civil documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and police records. These documents must come from an official issuing authority in your country of residence. Moreover, translations must accompany any document not written in English. Scan these and the rest of the required documents above for submission to CEAC.
Remember only to include documents explicitly needed by the center. Once you submit all documents and acknowledge payment, the NVC will review your case and schedule a U.S. work visa interview.
Step 6. Prepare for the Interview
Once your online submission is reviewed, you will receive an appointment date and time. Before this date, complete a medical examination with embassy-approved physicians in your country of residence. The result will be given to you or sent directly to the U.S. embassy.
Step 7. Attend the Interview
On the day of your appointment, bring all your documents, the appointment letter, and the printed visa application confirmation page. A consular officer will interview you to determine your eligibility for your U.S. work visa. You will also submit biometric data, such as digital fingerprint scans. The estimated wait time for the outcome of your application will depend on the embassy’s workload.
You can track the status using the CEAC platform. If you are successfully granted a work visa, you must travel to the United States no later than the visa’s expiration date.
Documents Needed for a U.S. Work Visa
Permanent employment-based visas in the USA are divided into five categories, with two or more subcategories each. All of them require basic visa application requirements with few additional documents to prove credibility in the particular category.
| EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISAS |
| VISA TYPE |
BASIC REQUIREMENTS |
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS |
| E1 |
• Online Visa Application Form
• Two colored photographs
• Passport valid for six months after your planned stay
• Civil documents
• Travel itinerary
• Proof of accommodation or invitation letter
• Proof of payment of visa fees
• Proof of financial means or sponsorship documents
• Proof of no criminal record
• Medical certificate by an embassy-approved physician
• Professional or employment documents
• Approved Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Form I-140) from employer
• Approved Labor Certification (for E2 and E3) |
Persons with extraordinary ability
○ Proof of extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, athletics, and the arts
Outstanding researchers and professors
○ Proof of at least three years experience in research or teaching
○ Proof of international recognition
○ Job offer on a comparable position in higher education
Multinational Executives and managers
○ Proof of employment by the overseas affiliate
○ Job offer on a managerial or executive position |
| E2 |
Professionals with advanced degrees
○ Job offer
○ Degree beyond the baccalaureate, or a baccalaureate degree with at least five (5) years experience in said profession
Persons with exceptional ability
○ Job offer
○ Degree significantly above ordinary sciences, business, and arts degrees |
| E3 |
Skilled workers
○ Proof of 2 years regular training or work experience
Professionals
○ Baccalaureate degree from a U.S. university or foreign equivalent
Other workers
○ Proof of training or work experience |
| E4 |
• Beneficiaries of approved petitions, certain broadcasters, certain former employees, certain physicians, religious workers, and others. See the full list here.
• Approved Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360) |
| E5 |
Immigrant investors
○ Proof of minimum capital investment in qualifying enterprise |
Only a few classifications of temporary or non-immigrant visas allow employment, as listed by USCIS. Nonetheless, they require the exact basic requirements and additional occupation-specific documents. If you’re already in the USA holding a visa with no work authorization, you may directly file an Application for Employment Authorization or Form I-765 with the DOS.
Working in the United States offers many opportunities, career progression, and exposure to different people in many business industries. However, legally working in the country requires a work visa, which verifies your compliance with immigration regulations and employment eligibility. So, make sure to follow the steps in the article to get this specific visa and get a job in the U.S. without worries!
We hope this article on getting a work visa in the USA was helpful! If you’re interested in learning more about studying in the U.S. and other countries, feel free to check out the Study in the USA and the Available Programs for International Students!
